Automobile hood latch



' Q. G. NOBLITT AUTOMOBILE HOOD LATCH Filed July 11, 1927 INVENTOR. Qu/NT/N 6. NOEL/7'7.

BY 2 Z E a p? r-Zi AT ORNEYJ.

Patented July 24, 1928.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

QUENTIN G. NOBLITT, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO INDIANAPOLIS PUMP & TUBE COMPANY, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, A CORPORATION.

AUTOMOBILE HOOD LATCH -Applicationfiled July 11,

This invention pertains to a hood latch for automobiles or the like.

It is the chief object of the invention to provide a hood latch of this character which will exert a yielding downward pull on the hood for maintaining it in closed position, and simultaneously cause a side pressure to be exerted against the hood for preventing any rattle thereof, as is well understood 1n the art.

' The particular feature involved herein resides in the effective and simplified structure for acquiring the desired results, as Will be hereinafter more fully set forth and described. I The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following descriptlon and claims: 7

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a section through the hood latch and a portion of the vehicle hood and frame. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the latch looking toward the side clamping member. Fig. 3 is a plan View,

thereof.

In the drawings there is illustrated a section of a hood 10 and vehicle frame 11 having the usual upwardly-extending flange 12v against which the lower edge of the hood abuts when in closed position.

Rigidly secured to the side of the hood there is a keeper plate 13 having a keeper 14 formed at the upper portion thereof, said plate extending downwardly a substantial distance toward the lower edge of the hood.

The latch is anchored in the usual manner by an anchor member 17 secured to the frame 11 and having anopening therein through which a rod 18 extends, said rod having a head 19 on its lower end within the anchor and having its opposite end extending into the usual elon ated barrel 20. At the upper. end of the rod there is an enlarged head 21 against which there is positioned a felt disk 22 hearing against the inner wall of the barrel so as to maintain the rod in the center thereof. Surrounding the rod at the lower end of the barrel there is a felt oil retaining washer 24 below which the metal disk 25 60. is mounted. Intermediate the felt disks 22 1927. Serial No; 204,882.

and 24 there is-a spiral compression spring 27 By means of this arrangement, the felt washers will revent water and dust from entering the arrel and will lubricate the same upon being saturated with oil, and will prevent the metal of the rod and spring from contacting with that of the barrel so as to eliminate squeaking or rattle.

Rigidly secured to the upper end of the keeper plate 13 by means of the clip 23 there is a spring arm 28. A latchfinger 29 havin a rearwardly-extending handle 30 forme integral therewith is rigidly secured to the top of the barrel 20. The spring 28 extends downwardly and is spaced somewhat from the inner surface of the barrel in position to have its lower free end project outwards to resiliently engage against the said barrel when the latch is in latching position. In this position, as shown in Fig. 1, the spring, by reason of its engagement with the barrel is yieldingly forced rearwardly toward the keeper plate under spring tension so that when the latch engaging the keeper maintains the barrel in the position shown, a substantial spring pressure will be exerted laterally through the resilient spring 28 against the hood for holding it in position against the flange 12 of the frame.

The invention claimed is:

1. The combination with a vehicle hood and frame, of a latch therefor, comprising a keeper secured to said hood, a latch member yieldingly connected with said frame adjacent said hood, means thereon for engaging said keeper and exerting a downward pressure thereon, and a spring arm having one end thereof rigidly secured to the up or portion of said keeper plate and the rec end thereof extending downwardly and outwardly toward said member in position to engage its lower end for causing a yielding lateral force to be exerted thereby against the hood when said latch member is in latching position.

. 2. The combination with a vehicle hood and frame, of a latch therefor comprising a keeper plate secured to said hood having a keeper at one end, a latch member yieldingly connected with said frame adjacent said k005i, a projection thereon f0; engaging said keeper and exerting a downward pressure thereon, and a, spring arm rigidly secured to the upper portion of $2216. keeper plate having its free end extending d0wnwardly ami outwardly therefrom in position to engage the lower portion of said member latch member is in latching position. 10

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my slgnature.

QUENTIN G. NOBLITT. 

